Bedfordshire Smallbore Shooting Association

Entries are now open for the 25 yd Indoor Prone Rifle Match and the 10m Airgun Match, to be held at the Bedford (Clapham) range on the 13/14th January 2024.

The Prone Rifle Match consist of two details, each of 40 shots on NSRA 2510BM 1989 series targets – Aggregate ex 800. There will be a 50 minute break between details. Competitors are classified in four classes: BSSA ‘X’ class is made up of shooters in & previously in X Class within the past 3 years, Nationally Classified ‘X’ Class competitors will be placed in Class ‘X’; all other competitors will be placed in three equal classes as far as possible, according to submitted average. All competitors other than ‘X’ Class are required to submit an average based on the best 5 of the last 6 indoor scores. See below for link to further details and the entry form.

The Bench Rest competition will be shot in one class on a squadded basis with 80 shots to count in two 40 shot details. It is an any sights competition to be shot at 25 yds. Own rests are to be brought by the shooters competing. Two firing points per detail will be allocated for bench rest competitor, please annotate your entry form with ‘Bench rest’ or contact Steve Beadle directly (contact details on entry form) if you wish to enter this discipline.

The Airgun competition is in three categories: Air Pistol, Air Rifle (precision) and Air Rifle (Sporter).

Air Pistol & Rifle (precision)

Comp 1 – 60 shot course of fire at Air4/89-18 or A3/89-18 10m targets.

Comp 2 – Second 60 shot course, scores aggregated with Comp 1.

Air rifle (Sporter) – 40 shots at 10m.

Entry forms for these competitions may be downloaded from:

Prone and Bench Rest Entry Form

Airgun Entry Form

A chilly start (around 2-3°C) for Round 2 of 2023/24 Frostbite League, though it had warmed just enough to clear the overnight frost. Luckily there was no wind, so it did not feel quite as cold as it might have, but the heavy overcast made for a dull morning.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 3 (50m) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 10th December. The forecast suggests that this could be a mild, wet day, with a bit of wind to contend with.
Round 3 incorporates the Christmas Fun Shoot, if you would like to compete in this please bring a seasonal, wrapped prize, to the value of around £5.
There may be couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, 07720 677456.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the Indoor Meeting, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle and airgun (pistol & rifle) to be held on the 13/14th January 2024 (note this is two weeks earlier than usual). Details of this competition, including entry forms,  are available here.

A chilly and damp start for the 2023/24 Frostbite League, though the rain held off for most of the time and the still conditions made it feel warmer than it was. It being Remembrance Sunday the proceedings paused at 11 o’clock, which coincided with the second/third detail target change, to observe the 2 minute silence.

Results were:

Full results may be found here.

Round 2 (100 yards) of the Frostbite League will take place on the 26th November. The forecast suggests that this should be another mild day, with sunshine and light winds.
There are a couple of spare spaces on the firing point, so if you would like to participate please contact Steve Beadle, 07720 677456.

The next BSSA Open meeting is the Indoor Meeting, offering competitions for prone rifle, benchrest rifle and airgun (pistol & rifle) to be held on the 13/14th January 2024 (note this is two weeks earlier than usual). The entry form for this competition will be available shortly.

An interesting and challenging days shooting.

A unique course of fire to commemorate the late Queen:
96 (years of life) shots at 50m (8 cards, 12 shots on each),
70 (years of reign) shots at 100yds (5 cards, 14 shots on each).
Sighting shots only on the first detail at each range.

The weather then added a further challenge, with the early morning details enjoying(?) the sunshine and temperatures hovering above the 30°C mark.  As the day progressed it became more overcast and threatening. Around the 2 o’clock detail/target change the wind got up, with some strong gusts; a concern for the 50m competitors about to start their third detail, with no sighters allowed. However, as the detail started, the wind was replaced by the rain (and thunder).  The rain stopped just as that detail ended and bright, calmer and considerably cooler conditions prevailed for the rest of the day.

The Queens Age Match (96 shots at 50m) medal winners were:

The Bench Rest medal winner was A Campbell who recorded a score of 949 with 14 Xs.
The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith and the Junior by Ms T Austin.

The Queens Reign Match (70 shots at 100 yds) winners were:

All prizes for the Queens Reign Match were in bottles of wine.

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting will be the Indoor meeting, which offers both prone and airgun disciplines. This meeting is scheduled for the 13th/14th January 2024.

Also upcoming is the 2023/24 Frostbite League, six shoulder to shoulder matches, shot on Sunday mornings over the winter months at the Bedford Range. The matches alternate between 50m and 100 yds. Further details and entry form may be found here. Entries close on the 5th November and the first match is on the 12th November.

To mark the first anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II the BSSA are holding a memorial open meeting.

In honour of the late Queen, two competitions are offered:

The main competition is 96 shots (1 for each year of the Queens life) over eight cards at 50 metres, prone or bench rest.

The optional competition is 70 shots (1 for each year of the Queens reign) over five cards at 100 yards, prone only.

The main competition will consist of three 20 minute details; the optional competition will consist of two 20 minute details. In each case, sighting shot are only allowed on the first detail.

Venue: BEDFORD RIFLE CLUB RANGES, CLAPHAM ROAD, BEDFORD MK41 6EN .

To be shot in four classes:
CLASS X – National Classification, current and previous three years.
Classes A, B & C according to average.
Bench rest – Single Class

For further details, please refer to the Entry Form.

Entries are now open for the BSSA 25yd pairs competitions.

Entries for the winter 2023/24 25yd competition close on the 4th September with the first round to be shot by the 9th October. Further details and entry form may be found here.

An almost over pleasant day for the competitors, with the temperature hovering above the 30°C mark. Luckily, there was a slight breeze which took the edge off the sun’s heat, however it also provided a challenge for the competitors. There was just one ‘possible’ scored in the main 100 yard competition.

The usual BSSA suspects were joined by New Zealander Shania Harrison-Lee, who acquitted herself well at what is known as a tricky range.

The Scottish Match (60 shots at 100 yards) prize winners were:

The Bench Rest competition winner was K Sheead who recorded a score of 585 with 11 Xs.
The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith and the Junior by S Bradfield

Optional 40 Shot at 50m Competition prize winners were:

All prizes for the 40 shot course were in bottles of wine.

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting is the BSSA Queen Elizabeth Memorial Shoot on the 10 September. Please note that this shoot has a unique format: 96 shots at 50m (8 cards, 12 shots on each) with optional 70 shots at 100yds (5 cards, 14 shots on each). Sighters only on the first detail at each range.

60 shots at 100 yds and optional 40 shots at 50 metres

Venue: BEDFORD RIFLE CLUB RANGES, CLAPHAM ROAD, BEDFORD MK41 6EN .

To be shot in four classes:
CLASS X – National Classification, current and previous three years.
Classes A, B & C according to entry.

Plus Benchrest (60 shot, 100yds only)

For further details of the BSSA Grand Slam, please refer to the Entry Form and Information Sheet.

Detailed results of the 2023 County Championships may be found here.
The winners table is:-

The forecast was for a pleasant spring day, it was late arriving and the first detail had to contend with a chilly overcast; thereafter the sun appeared and, other than the occasional wind flurry, pleasant shooting conditions prevailed.  The fair conditions allowed for 10 ‘possibles’ to be recorded, including an excellent one ‘clear’ detail for Mrs Beadle.

English Match prize winners were:

The Benchrest competition winner was A Campbell who recorded a score of 595 with 5 Xs.

The Ladies prize was won by Mrs W Foith, with a score of 586; and the sole Junior, Miss T Austin, recorded a score of 535. The pairing of S Cornish & R Fowke won the pairs competition with a combined score of 1172 ex 1200.

Optional 40 Shot Competition prize winners were:

All prizes for the 40 shot course were in bottles of wine.

Full results for both competitions may be found here.

The next BSSA Open Meeting is the BSSA Grand Slam, 60 shots at 100yds with optional 40 shots at 50m, to be held on the Sunday 25th June.